How Big Does a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Get? Average Weight & Growth Chart
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The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a British toy dog breed that has a characteristically silky coat and long, floppy ears. The y are quite small dogs because and are considered a “toy” dog breed.
These are friendly dogs that do not grow very large, and they make perfect family-orientated pets. This toy spaniel has a long history and is the combination of a gentle toy breed with the athleticism of a spaniel. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel looks regal and comes from a royal background.
Several different types of spaniel dogs come in a variety of sizes, from as small to large. The Cavalier seems to be one of the smallest spaniel breeds, which we will discuss in this article.
The Top 5 Facts About Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
1. The 6th most popular dog breed in 2007
In the United Kingdom in 2007, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was considered the 6th most popular dog. The breed had around 11,422 registrations that year.
2. Only four coat colors are recognized
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is well-known for their soft and silky coat that frames their body, but only four colors are recognized with this breed. These colors include white, chestnut, black, and tan and are shown as tricolor or bicolor.
3. Named after the Cavalier supporters
Breeders tried to recreate a dog that resembles Charles II’s spaniel from the period of the English Civil War. The “cavalier” in this spaniel’s name is from the name of the kings’ supporters who were called cavaliers.
4. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are used in an urban legend
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is referred to in an urban legend that claims that Charles II issued a decree that granted King Charles Spaniels permission to enter any establishment in the United Kingdom. This is now considered a myth as the rule only allows guide dogs.
5. One of the smallest spaniel breeds
Out of the many different spaniel breeds, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is considered to be one of the smallest, which is why they are referred to as a “toy” dog breed.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Size and Growth Chart
| Age | Weight Range | Height Range |
| 1 month | 1.5–3 pounds | 4.2–5 inches |
| 2 months | 3–5 pounds | 5–6 inches |
| 3 months | 5.7–7.9 pounds | 6–7 inches |
| 4 months | 7.6–10.3 pounds | 6.8–7.5 inches |
| 5 months | 9.2–12.8 pounds | 7.8–8.5 inches |
| 6 months | 10.3–14.1 pounds | 8–8.9 inches |
| 7 months | 11.4–15.6 pounds | 8.5–9 inches |
| 8 months | 12–16.5 pounds | 9–10 inches |
| 9 months | 12.3–17.1 pounds | 10.5–11.6 inches |
| 10 months | 12.6–17.5 pounds | 11.5–12 inches |
| 11 months | 12.8–17.9 pounds | 11.8–12.9 inches |
| 12 months (1 year) | 13–18 pounds | 12–13 inches |
0–2 Weeks
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will go through a neonatal stage from birth up until they are 2 weeks old. During this stage, they will spend most of their time sleeping and feeding their mother. They depend on their mother for safety and milk so that they can grow. Newborn Cavalier King Charles Spaniels will weigh less than 1.5 pounds during this time, making them quite small.
2–4 Weeks
This is a transitional stage during a King Charles Spaniels’ life. This is when their eyes and ears will begin to open properly, and they will start crawling and trying to stand up. At the end of this stage, the puppies’ teeth will start developing through the gum. They will weigh between 1.5 to 3 pounds by the time they are 1 month old.
2–3 Months
During these months, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies will learn valuable communication skills from their siblings and mother. This will allow them to learn how to socialize with other dogs and it is a vital time for their development.
You should avoid separating the puppies from their littermates and mother for a long time because they need to be together to learn and develop together. During this time, your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will only weigh around 5 to 8 pounds.
4–6 Months
At this stage, your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will be entering their independent puppy stage. Here they will become more active and eager to explore. They will spend less time with their littermates and mother and more time getting up to mischief. This is the ideal age to start taking your puppy to training classes so that they can start being trained and taught commands. They will weigh between 8 to 14 pounds and their height will drastically increase.
8–9 Months
Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will now be a late adolescent that is almost fully grown. Their activity levels will have calmed down at the end of this stage and they will have reached a height of 10 to 11 inches and be close to reaching their adult weight of 13 to 18 pounds.
10–12 Months
By this time your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel would have reached adulthood and be fully grown. You will find that they will start putting on weight and looking more like an adult dog than a puppy as their features start to mature. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel grows to around 12 to 13 inches in height as an adult and they can weigh anywhere between 13 to 18 pounds.
When Does a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Stop Growing?
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will stop growing at 12 months (1 year) of age, but you will still notice that they put on weight until they reach 16 months of age. By this age, they will have mature features and healthy adult weight, and you will not notice any new growth aside from slow weight gain. Most of their growth happens during the first 6 months of their life and slows down until they reach adulthood and are considered adults.
Factors Affecting the Size of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Certain factors can affect your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s growth, such as their age, nutrition, health, and genetics.
Age
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are still growing during the first year of their life, so they will still grow up till 12 months of age and gain their adult weight up to 16 months of age. As your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ages into their senior years, they may also start to gain more weight which can make them appear larger.
Nutrition
Nutrition plays a major role in the size of your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. A balanced diet ensures that they will be receiving all the nutrients they require to develop healthy muscles and maintain a healthy weight. Your dog needs the right nutrition for normal growth.
Eating too much of the wrong types of food can cause your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to put on weight, and certain health conditions or a poor diet can lead to obesity. If your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel doesn’t receive a balanced diet with vitamins and minerals, you might notice that they do not grow as fast or put on weight as a healthier dog would that is fed a complete diet.
Health
Certain health disorders can stunt your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s growth or make them prone to weight gain. Health conditions such as leg deformities, abnormal posture, hip dysplasia, and spine deformities can make your cavalier King Charles spaniel appear smaller because of their poor posture. Other medical conditions like diabetes can either contribute to weight gain or weight loss which can change the size of your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Genetics
Another important factor that can affect the size of your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is their genetics. If your Cavalier is a mixed breed, they might be larger than the average Cavalier.
Ideal Diet for Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will require a healthy and balanced diet that contains vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats. A veterinarian can help you choose the best food for your Cavalier according to their lifestyle, age, and health. Aside from ensuring they are fed a complete and balanced diet in the right portions; exercise is also important for your dog’s weight management.
How to Measure Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
You can measure your King Charles Spaniel’s height and length by using a soft measuring tape for humans or a dog tape measure. This will allow you to accurately find how much your Cavalier is growing.
You can measure your Cavalier puppy every week to see how many inches they have grown and write it down to keep track of their growth. Once they have stopped growing at around 12 months of age, you can monitor their weight on a scale to see how much weight they are gaining or losing.
Final Thoughts
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a toy dog breed, meaning they do not grow very large. This dog breed rarely grows any bigger than 12 to 13 inches in height as an adult and they will weigh between 13 to 18 pounds according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do most of their growing during the first 6 months of their life, and they stop growing at 12 months, however, they will still put on weight during this time.
Featured Image Credit: BIGANDT.COM, Shutterstock
